First Grade: South East Phoenix 3-5 South Coast Flame

It was derby day this weekend with the girls travelling away to South East Phoenix. The girls were keen for redemption from the first game.

The fire in the girls was raging and recent performances have been positive. The game started with the Flame girls dominating possession. The Phoenix defended hard and were looking to score on the counter attack. The Flame won a corner and the girls delivered the first blow. Caitlin Russel whipped in a corner to find Jess Cruickshank in open space to knock in a header.

Moments later Emi Skopal and Cruickshank combined to get Skopal free in behind. She took her touch past the keeper and drew in a penalty. Cruickshank stepped up and made it 2-0. A resilient Phoenix battled hard and scored two goals in the dying moments in the half, one from open play and another from a dubious penalty call.

The Flame girls came out in the second half firing. After crafty combination play down the left and right side by Lulu Lozano and Caley Tallon-Henniker, we were able to get our attackers shooting on target from cut back crosses. Alexis Malizis was unlucky to find the outside of the post to take the lead again.

After another counter attack, the Flame won another corner. A ball was whipped in by Malizis and Lisa Prior was there to knock in the rebounded ball against her old club on the 58 minute mark.

10 minutes later, the Flame conceded a free kick which was converted well to make it 3-3. The Phoenix were looking tired and the Flame girls dominated possession and the chances.

Sariah Wilson and Monique Koloski came on and changed the game. In one of her opening touches, Wilson played a long ball in for Cruickshank to get one-on-one with the keeper. She stayed calm and slotted the ball into the top left corner. With 15 minutes to go, the Flame won another penalty after Cruickshank was tripped in the box. Skopal stepped up and converted to make it 5-3.  Game over.

Player of the week: Jess Cruickshank

Jess was our hat trick hero on the weekend!

U/20: South East Phoenix 1-1 South Coast Flame

South Coast Flame traveled away to South East Phoenix for the second time this season, hoping to replicate their strong performance from last weekend.

Flame started the game strongly, creating a scoring chance in the opening 30 seconds with Ava Parry shooting at the keeper from eight yards. Flame were finding ways to break through the Phoenix defence and it looked a matter of time until they broke the deadlock. Shots from Hazel Atkins, Emily Kostovski and Mia Riza all within the penalty area could not be converted as Phoenix were let off the hook on multiple occasions.

Tahlia Sharrock was for the majority a spectator in the first half but did make a good diving save to her left late in the half. Half time and scores still 0-0.

South East Phoenix came out the second half the stronger and began to boss the game. Three minutes into the half, a hit-and-hope shot from 30 meters out looped over Sharrock in the Flame goal to give the home side a one nil lead.

The goal gave Phoenix more wind in their sails as they kept the pressure on South Coast, who were struggling to get out of their own half. An injection of energy off the bench from Samantha Shallcross and Jessica Bermudes brought some life back into a dull Flame side.

With the clock ticking into its final minutes, Lili Rosandic delivered a gem of a free kick into the Phoenix penalty area resulting in a goal-mouth scramble, where Sam Shallcross got the final touch that hit the Phoenix net to level the score with three minutes remaining.

South Coast nearly stole all three points with nearly the final kick of the game as Gemma Bishop went through on goal, lobbing the goal keeper but before the ball could hit the net, the referee called a free kick for Phoenix due to a nudge from Bishop – harsh, but probably fair.

On the balance of play, South Coast can consider themselves lucky to get a point after a lackluster second half performance, but also will be disappointed that they did not put the game beyond doubt in the first half with four very good scoring chances going missing.

Player of the week: Ava Parry

16 Girls: South East Phoenix 0-11 South Coast Flame

The South Coast Flame looked to build on their impressive 5-0 victory last week as they travelled to Ison Park for the much anticipated battle of the South.

The home side began the game in positive fashion, looking to turn the Flame defenders around and apply pressure from the front. This would result in their first shot of the game but didnt trouble Ciara Wade in goals.

This early pressure would be fleeting as the Flame took control and never looked back. Maddison Day continued her hot streak in front of goal by slotting the ball into the bottom right corner to put the visitors in front in the 10th minute.

Five minutes later, Gemma Bishop’s expertly placed diagonal pass, found the foot of Sam Shallcross who obliged and finished in the same fashion as Day to make it two. South East managed to stem the flow for some time but in the 30th minute, the floodgates opened and Alivia Beath scored after Mackenzie Webb cut the ball back. On her return from injury, Leila Maddox would go on a mazy run down the right and finish to make it four in the 35th minute. The final goal of the half would by scored by Belen Collazo-Pazos who never gave up on a ball in the box and prodded home to enter the break 5-0 up.

Smelling blood in the water, the Flame came out in the second half continuing to fire. Collazo-Pazos would score her second with a stunner from outside the area, which clipped the underside of the crossbar on its way in. After providing for her teammates, Mackenzie Webb would take the game into her own hands and score her first of the afternoon. Webb would go on to score a hattrick as her second and third came either side of another Maddi Day strike. Day would complete the rout by scoring her second hattrick in as many weeks and her seventh in three games. A very clinical performance from a side that has found their scoring boots in recent weeks.

Player of the week: Mackenzie Webb

Mackenzie has been the go-to player to solve the Flame’s tactical problems in recent weeks. She has found herself playing all over the park and this effort was rewarded as her powerful, direct runs resulted in a well taken hattrick and a couple of assists. She has become a very dependable player that is capable of affecting the game wherever she plays.

15 Girls: South East Phoenix 4-0 South Coast Flame

The 15’s girls started the game strong and had a few shots at goal in the first 10 minutes that was promising for the game ahead.

Flame were dominating the field with strong passing and great communication between all players.

A goal to South East Phoenix at 20 minutes saw the Flame lose some of their enthusiasm and confidence in their play.

Half time saw the Phoenix leading 3-0 and the Flame feeling deflated. Some half time discussions about positioning and keeping our ball skills strong saw the girls head back into the game to regain some momentum in the game.

Flame had to play a defensive game to keep the Phoenix out. The final result saw South East Phoenix coming away with a 4-0 win.

14 Girls: South East Phoenix 4-2 South Coast Flame

Last time these two teams met on derby day, it was an exciting affair that involved 12 goals and multiple lead switches.

Both teams started tentatively as they attempted to identify the opposition’s game plan. Despite the odd chance here and there, this led to a stalemate in the first half. As time ticked on, the Flame grew into the game and found some success playing out from the back, particularly through Mia Stapley. Mila Davidovic was also a threat as she frequently drove into midfield to create overloads.

Judging by their past meeting, this fixture was always likely to produce goals and the second half lived up to that expectation. Just 20 seconds into the half, the South Coast Flame took the lead through Caelin Rogers who found herself in behind and slotted her fourth goal in just three weeks.

This goal jolted the opposition into action who responded within two minutes. The Phoenix managed to maintain this momentum and their star striker scored three in seven minutes to give her side a 3-1 advantage.

This wild period would continue as the Flame would hit back immediately. Grace Duggan weaved her way through three South East players and scored her first goal for the South Coast Flame in the Girls Youth League 2. This 15 minutes of madness would finally come to a close as the talented South East striker scored her fourth of the game.

Despite controlling more of the ball in the closing stages and continually pushing players forward, the South Coast Flame were unable to close the gap and the game finished 4-2 to the home side.

Player of the week: Abigail Inman

Abigail has been steadily progressing throughout the season. Her distribution on game day was important in the Flame controlling much of the first half. She was also responsible for for keeping the girls in the game with some great saves.